Additive and process for sticky control in recycled pulps

ABSTRACT

The present invention describes an additive which controls stickies formation and removes anionic trash from recycled old corrugated container furnish, old newsprint furnish, deinked pulp furnish, old magazine grade furnish, coated broke furnish, or thermomechanical pulp furnish. The present invention treats talc with either a tertiary or quaternary amine. The treated talc is then added to the pulp slurry and removes stickies by binding the stickies to the talc and neutralizes the anionic trash that may be present.  
     The present invention also describes a method for modifying talc particles involving contacting a tertiary or quaternary amine with talc particles. The present invention further describes a talc created by the process of contacting a tertiary or quaternary amine with talc particles. The present invention additionally describes a paper product having a modified talc filler wherein the modified talc filler has been contacted with a tertiary or quaternary amine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/342,835 filed Dec. 21, 2001. The entiredisclosure of the provisional application is considered to be part ofthe disclosure of the accompanying application and is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to a chemical additive and aprocess for making the additive, which can be used in heavy paper,cardboard or paperboard processes, even those using recycled pulp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the field of making cardboard, heavy paper, or paperboard,recycled newsprint (ONP), old magazine grades (OMG), coated broke andold corrugated containers (OCC) are often used as ingredients.Contaminants such as waxes, hot melts, pressure sensitive adhesives,latex, or binder materials are usually present in these types ofmaterials in varying quantities. Waxes, hot melts and pressure sensitiveadhesives are generally referred to as stickies because they becomeseparated from the pulp and stick to the paper making equipment andaccessories. The stickies, if not treated or removed, can cause problemswith running paper machines and paper quality defects.

[0004] In addition to the stickies, pulp suspensions also have colloidalanions, such as wood resins and fatty acids, referred to as anionictrash. Anionic trash needs to be controlled, otherwise, the trash willcontribute to the deposit problems and will interfere withfiber-to-fiber bonding. The more problematic of the anionic trash is thewood resins and fatty acids since they form pitch or tacky deposits onthe paper machine and related equipment, if not treated.

[0005] Many different substances are currently used for pitch andstickies control. Such substances include, but are not limited tochemicals (coagulants, polyamine, polydadmacs, polyethyleneimines,surfactants), talc, bentonite, precipitated calcium carbonate, anddiatomaceous earth. Chemicals are only partially effective incontrolling pitch and, in addition, are expensive additives. Whilechemicals are partially effective in controlling pitch, chemicals aregenerally ineffective in stickies control.

[0006] If stickies are not controlled, the paper machine must be shutdown periodically to remove the stickies and render the equipmentusable. Methods such as pressing, fabric wash-ups, and boil-outs areusually practiced to remove stickies. As one can imagine, shutting downthe paper machine to remove stickies is an expensive and time consumingundertaking.

[0007] Pigments such as talc, bentonite, PCC and diatomaceous earth arealso being used for their adsorptive properties. PCC can only be used ina neutral or alkaline pH environment since PCC dissolves in an acid pHenvironment to form lime and carbon dioxide. Diatomaceous earth, whileable to be used in any pH environment, is very abrasive and has atendency to adhere to parts of the paper making equipment. The use ofdiatomaceous earth requires the replacement and/or cleaning of variouspieces of equipment more often than other types of adsorptive materials.Bentonite, like talc, can be used in any pH environment. However, unliketalc, the bentonite is less effective in controlling adhesives, waxesand hot melts.

[0008] Talc is naturally hydrophobic. Talc, in its natural state, hasanionic sites at the edges of each particle. This anionicity makes talc(in its natural form) less effective than chemical polymers in dealingwith pulp slurries with high levels of anionic trash since the anionicsites on the talc will repel the anionic trash present in the slurry orfurnish. The treatment of talc with chemical polymers, specificallypolydadmacs, has been described in at least U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,955 andU.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/327,638 filed on Oct. 5, 2001.While the polydadmac treated talc has been effective in some papermaking applications, this form of cationic treatment does not appear tobe as effective in controlling stickies in pulp slurries that containhigh levels of waxes, hot melts and pressure sensitive adhesives.

[0009] Fillers such as talc, bentonite, and diatomaceous earth alsoimpact other properties of the paper or board, especially when excessiveamounts of the fillers are added to the pulp furnish. For instance,fillers can affect the strength of the board by negatively impactingfiber-to-fiber bonding. Fillers also reduce stiffness and can affect thecoefficient of friction of the boards. A minimum value of a coefficientof friction is needed; otherwise, boards stacked on top of each otherwill not stack but will slide off the board located below it. This makesthe boards hard to store and transport.

[0010] Thus, an additive, which can be added in amounts that do notaffect other properties of the paper or boards, is needed which willeffectively control stickies formation and remove anionic trash.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention describes an additive which controlsstickies formation and removes anionic trash from recycled oldcorrugated container furnish, old newsprint furnish, deinked pulpfurnish, old magazine grade furnish, coated broke furnish, orthermomechanical pulp furnish. The present invention treats talc with acationic polymer, typically either a tertiary or quaternary amine. Whilenot wishing to be bound to any theory, Applicants believe that atcertain amounts, the tertiary or quaternary amine will change only theedges of the talc particles from anionic to cationic. However, it ispossible that the amine will change only small portions of the talcsurface. The tertiary or quaternary amine is admixed with talcparticles. The resultant treated talc has cationic sites for attractinganionic trash present in the pulp slurries and also has hydrophobic oroleophobic surface for attracting waxes, hot melts and pressuresensitive adhesives that would otherwise cause stickies. The treatedtalc is then added to the pulp slurry and removes stickies by bindingthe stickies to the talc and neutralizes the anionic trash that may bepresent.

[0012] The present invention also describes a method for modifying talcparticles involving contacting a tertiary or quaternary amine with talcparticles. The present invention further describes a talc created by theprocess of contacting a tertiary or quaternary amine with talcparticles. The present invention additionally describes a paper producthaving a modified talc filler wherein the modified talc filler has beencontacted with a tertiary or quaternary amine.

[0013] These and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following best mode description,the drawings and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The figures which follow depict a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and may depict various alternative embodiments. The inventionis not limited to the embodiment or embodiments depicted herein sinceeven further various alternative embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art. For the ease of the reader, like referencenumerals in various drawing figures refer to identical structuralelements or components.

[0015]FIG. 1 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the additive process ofthe present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the additiveprocess of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the additive process ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] At the outset, it should be understood that this inventioncomprises an additive for use in a paper making process and a method formaking such additive. The description which follows describes apreferred embodiment of the invention, and various alternativeembodiments. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,however, that various other alternative embodiments may be accomplishedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

[0019] The present invention treats talc with a cationic polymer,typically either a tertiary or quaternary amine. The discussion thatfollows focuses on the cationic polymer being a tertiary or quaternaryamine. It should be recognized by one of skill in the art that othercationic polymers may work with the present invention as well. The aminefamily is a family of organic compounds that have at least one sp3hybridized nitrogen bonded to as few as one hydrocarbon group and asmany as four hydrocarbon groups. If one hydrocarbon group is bonded tothe nitrogen it is classified as a primary amine. CH₃—NH₂ would be anexample of a primary (1°) amine with one methyl group attached to thenitrogen atom. Since nitrogen is tri-valent, primary amines have twohydrogens bonded to the nitrogen.

[0020] Amines can have two hydrocarbon groups bonded to the nitrogen andwould be classified as a secondary (2°) amine. (CH₃)₂NH would be anexample of a secondary amine. Amines may even have three hydrocarbongroups bonded to the nitrogen atom. Such amines would be classified as atertiary (3°) amine. (CH₃)₃N would be an example of a tertiary amine.

[0021] In addition, the nitrogen atom of the primary, secondary, andtertiary amines has a lone pair of electrons that is often in thepresence of a more acidic substance capable of donating the lone pair informing a fourth bonding pair. The use of the lone pair of electronsmakes the nitrogen electron deficient and the nitrogen atom would thenpossess a formal charge of +1. Such a positively charged nitrogen wouldbe classified as a quaternary amine. These are salt like and unlike theother classes of amines are not basic because they no longer have thelone pair of electrons. These quaternary amines are soluble in waterwhereas the other classes of amines are usually not very water soluble.

[0022] Although any quaternary amine can be used according to thepresent invention, the quaternary amine can be selected from one of thefollowing amines: polydadmac or polyamine. The Examples of thisapplication use a polyamine to demonstrate the effectiveness of thequaternary amines. The polyamine used has the chemical structure: PAmolecules are linear. The molecular weight of the PA is approximately 1million amu.

[0023] Although any tertiary amine can be used according to the presentinvention, an example of a suitable tertiary amine is polyethyleneimine.The Examples of this application use a polyethyleneimine (PEI) todemonstrate the effectiveness of the tertiary amines. PEI has thechemical structure:

[0024] PEI molecules are spherical. The molecular weight of the PEI isapproximately 1 million amu. In acidic conditions, the charge density(μeq/g) of PEI is higher than the tertiary amines. However, at alkalinepH of 9 or above, the PEI will lose some of its charge. Thus, if using atertiary amine, the pH of the solution should be monitored so that thepH does not become alkaline enough to cause the PEI to lose its charge.

[0025] The addition of the quaternary or tertiary amine to a slurry oftalc particles will change portions of the surfaces of the talcparticles from anionic to cationic. The addition of the amine to thetalc particles can take any suitable form. For example, in somesituations, it may be advantageous to spray the amine on talc powder orpellets. In others, it may be desirable to admix the amine with talcparticles. The amount of quaternary or tertiary amine added to the talcparticles is controlled to ensure that the excess amine will not changethe entire surface of the talc particles since it is important topreserve at least some of the hydrophobic nature of the talc particles.This control of the amount of added amine will preserve thehydrophobicity of the talc's surface for attracting the stickies whilemaximizing the talc's attractiveness to anionic trash present in thepulp furnish.

[0026] In order to perform the experiments described in the Examples ofthis application, a pulp mixer such as those typically used in the papermaking industry was utilized. A mixing apparatus, called a dispermat, orKitchen-Aid mixer, has a stirrer that attaches to the mixer.

[0027]FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a commercial process that can beused to produce a treated talc, such as that described by the presentinvention. The talc can be treated by adding the additives, either inliquid or dry form, prior to the drying stage or subsequent to thedrying stage. FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a pre-dryer process whileFIGS. 2 and 3 depict embodiments of a post-dryer process. In FIG. 1,untreated talc is mixed with a cationic polymer solution (typically anemulsion), fed into a pelletizer and dried. The variables for thisprocess include but are not limited to solids of the cationic polymer,time in the mixed, time in the pelletizer, time and temperature in thedryer. Each of these variables are controlled.

[0028]FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention thatsupplies the cationic polymer to the talc after the talc has been dried.In this embodiment, the cationic polymer should be in liquid form. Thedried talc pellets are mixed with the cationic polymer, either in aone-stage as shown in FIG. 3 or multiple-stage mixing process as shownin FIG. 2.

EXAMPLES

[0029] The chemicals used throughout the examples discussed herein areshown in Table 1: TABLE 1 Chemicals Used Product Name Chemical SupplierNalkat 2060 Polyamine Ondeo-Nalco PRP 4440 Polydadmac Pearl RiverPolymin SK PEI BASF Mistron Plus (1.2%, active Polydadmac treated talcLuzenac basis) Alcofix ® 159 Cationic polymer Ciba-Geigy

[0030] Throughout the examples described herein, a standard procedurefor admixing the talc particles with the polymer was conducted. Theprocedure is as follows: The polymer was added to 200 g of water withstirring. Seventy-five grams of dry talc was then added and the totalweight of the solution was adjusted to 300 grams with deionized water.This resulted in a solids content of approximately 25 weight percent.Mixing was accomplished using a dispermat with a speed setting of 1000rpm and a 5 minute mixing time.

[0031] Also throughout the examples described herein, a standardizedprocedure for adding the treated talc to the pulp slurry was conducted.This procedure is as follows: about 360 grams of bone-dry OCC pulpslurry was first adjusted to a 4 percent consistency with deionizedwater. This slurry was then poured into a water-jacketed mixer andstirred for about 30 minutes to raise the temperature of the slurry toabout 50 to 52 degrees Celsius. The desired amount of treated talc wasthen added and mixed for 30 minutes. The treated pulp slurry was thenmixed for 90 minutes at the same stirring speed. The temperature of thepulp slurry was maintained at about 55 degrees Celsius with a waterjacket equipped with an immersion heater. After 90 minutes, mixing wasstopped, and the stirrer was rinsed to remove fibers. The resultantslurry from rinsing the stirrer was collected and oven dried to aconstant weight. The difference in weight represents the depositablematerial which is then converted to grams of depositable material perton of pulp.

EXAMPLE 1

[0032] The first experiment performed was to test a catonized talc,i.e., talc treated with only a polydadmac against a control and aconventional talc. An OCC pulp from a mill was used in this study. Foursamples of pulp were prepared: one without talc (control), one withconventional talc, and two with cationized talc at different dosages.The results of the deposition testing described above are listed inTable 2. TABLE 2 Results of Polydadmac Testing Dosage DepositableMaterial Treatment (lbs of talc/ton OCC) g/ton OCC % Reduction Control 0 40 0 Conventional talc 40 41 0 (no polymer) Mistron Plus 20 31 22.5Mistron Plus 40 13 67.5

[0033] The results show that the treated talc provides a reduction instickies deposited on the stirrer. The results also show that thepercent reduction increases with an increase in the amount of treatedtalc added to the OCC pulp. Thus, it is clear that a polydadmac treatedtalc will significantly reduce stickies.

[0034] While it is possible to add a polydadmac treated talc to an OCCpulp in the amounts shown above and such addition is specificallycontemplated herein, cost is a factor which, in the practical world,should be considered. In addition to cost considerations, it is notedthat the addition of 40 pounds of talc per ton of OCC pulp may affectother board properties such as strength, stiffness or coefficient offriction. Thus, while contemplated under the principles of theinvention, the addition of this much talc may have other impacts, and,therefore, other chemistries were evaluated to determine whether otherchemistries can provide the same benefits as the polydadmac treatedtalc.

EXAMPLE 2

[0035] The polymers chosen to be evaluated in this example werepolyamine (PA), polyethyleneimine (PEI), and polydadmac (PD). Since thethree polymers have different molecular weights and other properties, adosage level of each polymer that produce an identical talc particlecharge of 15 μeq/g was used to treat the talc. To attain the desiredparticle charge, the polymers were added as follows: Polyamine: 0.58%active Polydadmac: 0.62% active PEI: 0.93% active

[0036] The polymers were added to the talc substantially according tothe procedure described above. In the case of the PA and PD, the talcslurry was created without pH adjustment. However, the pH of the talcslurry with PEI was adjusted to a pH of about 5 with dilute sulfuricacid. The three polymers were compared in terms of their ability tocontrol stickies at two talc dosage levels using an OCC pulp furnish.The results are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 Results of Comparison of PD,PA, and PEI Dosage Depositable Material Treatment (Lbs of talc per tonof Pulp) g/T Pulp % Reduction Control  0 352.6  0 PD 20 327.4  7 30260.8 26 PA 10 202.3 43 20 293.6 17 PEI 20 136.7 61 30 153.9 56

[0037] The results of Example 2 clearly show that the PA or PEI treatedtalc at lower dosage levels provides the greatest reduction in stickies.The results also show that, in PD treated talcs, more talc is requiredto provide a greater reduction in stickies.

EXAMPLE 3

[0038] Since the results of Example 2 clearly show that PA and PEItreated talcs reduces stickies, the next step was to optimize thepolymer treatment in order to obtain a good balance between cationicityof talc edges and hydrophobicity of the planar surface of the talcparticles. As discussed above, if too much amine is added to the talcparticle slurry, the amine will turn the entire surface of the talcparticles from anionic to cationic. Thus, an optimum range of cationicpolymer to be added to the talc particles and also the optimum treatedtalc dosage to the recycled fibers were determined. This optimizationstudy was conducted using PA instead of PEI for the following reasons(1) being a quaternary amine, PA's efficiency is not affected by pulpstock pH, unlike PEI, a teritary amine, and (2) PA costs less than PEI.Different OCC pulps of varying levels of colloidal anionic trash andchemical oxygen demand (COD) were used to cover the broad spectrum ofOCC pulp quality. The results of this determination are shown in Table4. TABLE 4 Talc Treatment Optimization Amine Dosage Depositable Material(Lbs/Ton of Talc) g/ton of Pulp % Reduction 0   268 0 0.3 279 0 0.6 15044  0.7  50 81  1.2 255 5

[0039] The results shown Table 4 indicate that, while the dosages above0.3 lbs of amine per ton of talc will reduce the depositable material,dosages of approximately 0.4 to 1.0 provide the most significantreduction in depositable materials. A dosage of 1.2 lbs of amine per tonof talc resulted in a very slight reduction in depositable materials of5% when compared to the control. Applicants believe that, at the highdosage of 1.2 lbs of amine per ton of talc, the cationic polymer mayhave covered a part of the planar hydrophobic surface of talc, causing areduction in its efficiency.

[0040] Table 5 shows another example of the effect of polyamine dosageto talc on the reduction in depositable materials when using an OCC pulphaving a hugher Murek charge and a higher COD than the OCC pulp used togenerate the data in Table 4. TABLE 5 Talc Treatment Optimization (Case2) Amine Dosage Depositable Material (Lbs/Ton of Talc) g/ton of Pulp %Reduction 0   268  0 0.9 197 27 1.2 110 59

[0041] A higher dosage of polymer to talc was required to attain greaterthan a 50% reduction in depositable materials. The higher dosage inTable 5 compared to Table 4 is due to higher Mutek charge and COD of theOCC pulp in Table 5. However, it is evident from these two examples thatcationized talc is effective at reducing depositable materials in OCCfurnish.

EXAMPLE 4

[0042] This example shows the effect of treated talc dosage on thedepositable materials at the same level of polymer treatment in Tables 6and 7. TABLE 6 Optimization of treated talc dosage (Illustration 1) TalcDosage (lbs/dry Depositable Material ton of OCC) g/ton of Pulp %Reduction  0 487  0 10 480  1 20 351 28 30 150 69

[0043] TABLE 7 Optimization of treated talc dosage (Illustration 2) TalcDosage (lbs/dry ton of Depositable Material OCC) g/ton of Pulp %Reduction  0 250  0 10 150 40 20  80 68

[0044] As shown clearly in Tables 6 and 7, a sufficient quantity oftreated talc present in the OCC pulp suspension is effective. The amountof treated talc for a given resultdepends on the Mutek charge oranionicity of the system and the chemical oxygen demand.

EXAMPLE 5

[0045] A comparison between treated talc and a pure cationic polymer(costing the same as the treated talc) was conducted. The results areshown in Table 8: TABLE 8 Comparison Between Treated Talc and CationicPolymer Depositable Material Treatment g/ton of Pulp % Reduction Control487 0 Cationic Polymer 487 0 Treated Talc (@ 0.6% 150 69  active and 20lbs/ton of OCC)

[0046] The cationic polymer dosage was adjusted to equal the cost of thetreated talc at 20 lbs per ton of OCC. No reduction in depositablematerial was observed when the cationic polymer alone was used withoutthe talc. However, as Table 8 shows, a 69% reduction in depositablematerials was observed when the treated talc was added.

EXAMPLE 6

[0047] The effect of treated talc on paperboard properties was analyzed.Handsheets were prepared using a computerized MK former (miniature papermachine). The focus of the experiment was to compare handsheets withouttalc, as a control, to handsheets with talc at different dosages basedon dry OCC fibers. Handsheets with a 32 lb liner basis weight were usedin this experiment. Talc was treated with 0.6% active Nalkat 62060. Theresults of the experiment are shown in Table 9: TABLE 9 Effects ofTreated Talc on Paperboard Properties Treated Talc at Treated Talc atProperties Control 10 lbs/ton of OCC 20 lbs/ton of OCC Burst, psi 53.853.3 54.6 Tensile, N/mm 6.32 6.33 6.31 Stiffness, mg 21.2 20.4 21.9Porosity, sec/100 cc 14.5 16.1 23.5 COF, Static 0.49 0.51 0.46 COF,Kinetic 0.34 0.35 0.33

[0048] Fillers normally tend to reduce paper strength is applied inexcess, however, the results show that adding treated talc at thedifferent dosages did not negatively impact board properties. On thecontrary, as shown in Table 9, treated talc improved sheet porosity, adesirable paper characteristic. Treated talc did not impact thecoefficient of friction (COF). A low COF is undesirable for paperboardsas it will cause the cartons or boxes, when stacked, to slide againsteach other and eventually fall from the stack, potentially damaging anycontents.

EXAMPLE 7

[0049] The charge stability of the treated talc over time was tested.The treated talc was produced using Nalkat 62060 at 0.6% activefollowing the process depicted in FIG. 3. Table 10 shows the results oftests conducted during four weeks of storage. TABLE 10 Charge stabilityof treated talc over time Week 1 2 3 4 Mutek (μeq/g talc) 17.0 16.2 16.116.5

[0050] Thus, it is clear that the treated talc is stable over time.

[0051] The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation ofthe present invention have been described in the foregoingspecification. The invention which is intended to be protected hereinshould not, however, be construed as limited to the particular formsdisclosed, as these are to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the present invention.Accordingly, the foregoing best mode of carrying out the inventionshould be considered exemplary in nature and not as limiting to thescope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for modifying talc particles, comprisingcontacting a tertiary or quaternary amine with talc particles.
 2. Themethod for modifying talc according to claim 1 wherein an amount of thetertiary or quaternary amine to be contacted with the talc is sufficientto attain a 15 μeq/g talc particle charge.
 3. The method for modifyingtalc according to claim 1 wherein the tertiary amine ispolyethyleneimine.
 4. The method for modifying talc according to claim 1wherein the quaternary amine is selected from the group consisting ofpolyamine and polydadmac.
 5. The method for modifying talc according toclaim 1 wherein the quaternary amine is polyamine.
 6. The method formodifying talc according to claim 1 wherein the tertiary or quaternaryamine is added to the talc in an amount ranging from about 0.1 pounds ofamine per ton of talc to about 1.5 pounds of amine per ton of talc. 7.The method for modifying talc according to claim 1 wherein the tertiaryor quaternary amine is added to the talc in an amount ranging from about0.3 pounds of amine per ton of talc to about 1.2 pounds of amine per tonof talc.
 8. A talc created by the process described in claim
 1. 9. Themethod for modifying talc wherein the talc of claim 8 is added to a pulpin an amount ranging from about 5 pounds per ton of dry old corrugatedcontainer (OCC) fibers to about 30 pounds per ton of dry OCC fibers. 10.The method for modifying talc wherein the talc of claim 8 is added to apulp in an amount ranging from about 10 pounds per ton of dry oldcorrugated container (OCC) fibers to about 20 pounds per ton of dry OCCfibers.
 11. A method for improving the efficiency of talc in reducingdeposits on paper making equipment, comprising the steps of: a)contacting a cationic polymer with talc to form a modified talc; b)adding the modified talc to a pulp furnish.
 12. The method for modifyingtalc according to claim 11 wherein the cationic polymer is a tertiary orquaternary amine.
 13. The method for modifying talc according to claim13 wherein the tertiary amine is polyethyleneimine.
 14. The method formodifying talc according to claim 13 wherein the quaternary amine isselected from the group consisting of polyamine and polydadmac.
 15. Themethod for modifying talc according to claim 13 wherein the quaternaryamine is polyamine.
 16. The method for modifying talc according to claim13 wherein the tertiary or quaternary amine is added in an amountsufficient to attain a talc particle charge of about 15 μeq/g.
 17. Themethod for modifying talc according to claim 13 wherein the tertiary orquaternary amine is added to the talc in an amount ranging from about0.1 pounds of amine per ton of talc to about 1.5 pounds of amine per tonof talc.
 18. The method for modifying talc according to claim 13 whereinthe tertiary or quaternary amine is added to the talc in an amountranging from about 0.3 pounds of amine per ton of talc to about 1.2pounds of amine per ton of talc.
 19. A talc created by the processdescribed in claim
 13. 20. The method for modifying talc wherein thetalc of claim 19 is added to a pulp in an amount ranging from about 5pounds per ton of dry old corrugated container (OCC) fibers to about 30pounds per dry OCC fibers.
 21. The method for modifying talc wherein thetalc of claim 19 is added to a pulp in an amount ranging from about 10pounds per ton of dry old corrugated container (OCC) fibers to about 20pounds per dry OCC fibers.
 22. A paper product having a modified talcfiller wherein the modified talc filler has been contacted with atertiary or quaternary amine.
 23. A method for improving sheet porosityin paperboard, comprising: a) contacting a cationic polymer with talc toform a modified talc; b) adding the modified talc to a paperboard pulpfurnish; and, c) processing the paperboard pulp furnish to createpaperboard.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the cationic polymer is atertiary or quaternary amine.
 25. The method of claim 23 wherein thecationic polymer is added in an amount sufficient to attain a talcparticle charge of about 15 μeq/g.
 26. A process for manufacturing amodified talc filler comprising: contacting a cationic polymer with talcpowder to form a mixture; and, drying said mixture.
 27. The process ofclaim 26 further comprising pelletizing the mixture of cationic polymerand talc powder.
 28. The process of claim 26 wherein the cationicpolymer is added in an amount sufficient to attain a talc particlecharge of about 15 μeq/g.
 29. The process of claim 26 wherein thecationic polymer is a tertiary or quaternary amine.
 30. A process formanufacturing a modified talc filler comprising: a) drying talc; b)contacting a liquid cationic polymer with the dried talc; and, c) mixingsaid cationic polymer and dried talc.
 31. The process of claim 30wherein the talc was pelletized before drying.
 32. The process of claim30 wherein the cationic polymer is a tertiary or quaternary amine. 33.The process of claim 30 wherein the mixing of the cationic polymer anddried talc occurs in a single stage mixer.
 34. The process of claim 30wherein the mixing of the cationic polymer and dried talc occurs in amultiple stage mixer.